Bulk container having flexible inner container and rigid outer container

ABSTRACT

A collapsible container is provided in which there is a flange extension (8) from the outlet spout (5) to the lower corner of the container beneath the spout to hold the collapsible container in the corner of the rigid outer container (11) while the container is being filled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a flexible container for fluids.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Flexible containers for fluids are known in which there is an outersubstantially rigid container and an inner collapsible container forfluids. The inner collapsible container can be filled with fluid and thecontents can be dispensed without the need for air to enter the innercontainer thereby to avoid oxidation and deterioration of the contents.Wine and other fluids are housed in what have become known as bag-in-boxcontainers.

Containers are also known for industrial type application to packagelarger quantities of fluids. For example, bulk containers are used tohold in the order of 1000 liters of fluid or paste. In these containersthere is often a pallet such as a wooden pallet or the like supportingan outer substantially cubular rigid container which may be made ofmetal, timber or cardboard for example. The inner collapsible containermay be made of polymeric film such as polyethylene and may includeseveral layers of film to provide strength and oxygen barriercharacteristics as required.

Such containers may include an inlet towards the top through whichfluids may be passed to the collapsible container and an outlet weldedto a side wall of the collapsible container and including a spout toextend through an opening in a wall of the outer container and to whichthe contents can be dispensed. However, in larger containers of thistype it has been found that leakage often occurs where the outlet spoutis welded to the flexible container.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Analysis of the problem has revealed that substantial forces are createdat the weld due to the pressure caused by the contents of the flexiblecontainer particularly during transportation.

An object of the present invention is to minimize the risk of leakage inthe manner outlined.

According to the present invention there is provided a collapsiblecontainer for fluids. The collapsible container is adapted to be housedin an outer substantially rigid container which includes a base forsupporting the collapsible container, a plurality of side walls tosupport the collapsible container when filled and through one of thoseside walls an outlet opening. The rigid container may be supported on apallet or the like as is known in the art and it may be made of timber,carboard, metal or other suitable material.

The collapsible container of the present invention may be made of anysuitable film material or laminated films of material as is known in theart. A polypropylene or polyethylene film is particularly suitable forthis purpose. The collapsible container is preferably shaped generallyto correspond with the shape of the rigid container in which it is to behoused so that when full it will extend to and press against the wallsof the rigid container to be supported thereby. Preferably thecollapsible container is marginally greater in size than the rigidcontainer to ensure that the collapsible container does not need itselfto support the weight of the contents when in use.

The collapsible container may include a fluid inlet preferably on itsupper wall and through which fluid may be passed into the collapsiblecontainer. The inlet may include an inlet spout to extend through aninlet opening in the collapsible container and an inlet flange by whichthe inlet spout may be joined to the collapsible container. An inlet capmay be provided by which the inlet spout may be closed or opened. Thismay include for example a screw threaded cap.

The inlet may be made of any suitable material. A suitable material ispolyethylene. It is desirable that the material of the inlet spout andthe material of the collapsible container be compatable for joining,preferably by a welding technique as is known in the art.

The collapsible container of the present invention includes an outletmeans. The outlet means of the present invention includes an outletspout which may extend through the outlet opening in a wall of the rigidcontainer. An outlet flange is provided whereby the outlet means may bejoined to the collapsible container wall. The outlet flange of thepresent invention includes a substantially rigid flange extension thatin use extends from the outlet opening to a position substantiallyadjacent the junction of the side wall and the bottom wall of the rigidcontainer. The wall of the collapsible container is joined to the outletflange and flange extension at least substantially adjacent theperimeter thereof for a purpose more fully discussed below. The flangeand flange extension may be of any suitable shape and size necessary toextend to the position described. It may be provided as a framework orbe continuous to provide a holding portion or portions adjacent thejunction of the side and bottom walls in use. It also includes a spacingportion between the holding portion and flange to locate the holdingportion in that position.

The film of the collapsible container may extend across the outlet spoutin a manner known in the art whereby to seal the outlet means untilspecifically opened for dispensing of the fluid contents of the flexiblecontainer.

The outlet spout may be provided with an outlet cap which may be screwthreaded or otherwise affixed thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

An example of the apparatus of the present invention is shown in part inthe drawings annexed, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an outlet of a collapsiblecontainer constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a container assemblyrepresentative of the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a container assemblyconstructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment, illustrating acap secured in the outlet; and

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a container assembly constructedin accordance with the preferred embodiment, illustrating a collapsiblecontainer housed in an outer rigid container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows an outlet means of the present invention. It includes anoutlet spout shown generally at 5 including a screw threaded portion 6to which a covering cap 15 (shown in FIG. 3) can be applied. There isshown a flange 7 and flange extension 8 affixed to flexible film 9 of acollapsible container. The extension 8 may include a holding portionshown generally at 8a and a spacing portion 8b.

Portion 10 extends across the spout opening to provide a seal until theapparatus is opened.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show in cross section the junction bottom and side wallsof a rigid container with bottom wall 11 and side wall 12 with spout 5projecting therefrom. Within the container is shown collapsiblecontainer 9.

In FIG. 4 flange extension 8 will be noted. Flange extension 8 extendsto a location 8a adjacent the corner of side wall 12 and bottom wall 11of the rigid container. This pulls the bottom wall 13 of the flexiblecontainer 9 into the corner of the rigid container as shown in FIG. 3.

This can be compared with the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 where a flangeextension 8 is omitted. In that arrangement it is common for theflexible container 9 to form a wall between the outlet and the bottomwall 11 without extending into the corner as is shown generally at 14.

It will be seen then that the invention provides a simple and practicalmeans of pulling the flexible container into a position adjacent thecorner of the side wall and the bottom wall beneath the outlet spout.This is very difficult to achieve in the prior art. Before filling thecollapsible bag is placed loosely in the rigid container with the spoutin the outer opening. As it is filled the plastic moves to accommodatethe contents but the weight of the contents forcing down onto the bottomwall provides substantial resistance against the bag expanding outevenly into the corners of the rigid container. Attempts have been madein the past to inflate the flexible container before filling. Even sothe tendency is for the corners to be shaped generally shown in FIG. 2.

In locations other than adjacent the outlet spout, forces applied to thecollapsible container as a result of it being rounded at the corners isof little consequence. However, the substantial forces that aregenerated adjacent the spout particularly when the container istransported tends to tear the flexible container away from the outletflange. By use of the flange extension of the present invention theflexible container is automatically moved into the corner of the sidewall and bottom wall adjacent the outlet spout so that the forceshereindescribed are not generated in that locality. This limits thebreaking force of the container against the flange and avoids thedifficulties herein described.

It will be appreciated that many variations and modifications may bemade to the above described construction and arrangement of partswithout departing from the spirit of the present invention.

I claim:
 1. A bulk container including an inner collapsible containerand an outer rigid container in which the inner collapsible container ishoused, the rigid container including a bottom wall for supporting thecollapsible container, a plurality of side walls to support thecollapsible container when filled, and an outlet opening through one ofthe side walls,said collapsible container being provided with an outletspout adapted to extend through the outlet opening of the rigidcontainer, an outlet flange joining said spout to said collapsiblecontainer, and a substantially rigid flange extension being an extensionof said outlet flange and extending from a position adjacent said outletopening to a position adjacent the junction of the side wall and thebottom wall of the rigid container to hold a portion of the flexiblecontainer into the corner of the rigid container beneath said outletwhile the collapsible container is being filled, wherein the lower edgeof the flange extension contacts the bottom wall of the rigid container.2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flange extension isintegrally moulded with said flange.
 3. A collapsible container asclaimed in claim 2 wherein said outlet spout, said flange and saidflange extension are polyethylene.
 4. A container as claimed in claim 1,wherein said flange extension is located on the outer surface of thecollapsible container and is welded thereto.
 5. A container as claimedin claim 1, including an outlet cap affixed to said outlet spout.
 6. Acontainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of said collapsiblecontainer extends across said outlet spout to seal said spout from thecontents of the container until pierced.
 7. A container as claimed inclaim 1, provided by a plurality of layers of polymeric film.
 8. Acollapsible container as claimed in claim 1, including a top wall havinga sealable outlet for fluids.